Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore on RI250, Historic Documents & Civic Pride

​Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore has never strayed far from his roots. Born and raised in East Providence, Amore spent 27 years teaching U.S. history at East Providence High School before serving a decade in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Today, as the state's third-ranking elected official, he oversees one of the broadest portfolios in state government—and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I think the Secretary of State's office touches just about every aspect of Rhode Islanders' lives," Amore said in a recent interview. "Elections is the big one, but we're also the business services agent for the state, the state archivist, and the public information office. It's a broad portfolio."
That portfolio includes managing over 70,000 registered businesses, tracking and regulating lobbyists, maintaining hundreds of thousands of historic documents, and overseeing voter registration. Among those historic documents are some of the most significant in American history—including one of only nine known Goddard copies of the Declaration of Independence, and one of just 12 surviving copies of the Bill of Rights.
"Some of those records are mundane, like school committee minutes," Amore quipped, "but some are really valuable."
A Rare Opportunity to See History Up Close
For most of the year, these documents are held securely in the State Archives. But as part of Rhode Island 250 (RI250)—the state's official commemoration of America's 250th anniversary—Amore and his team have been bringing the Goddard copy of the Declaration of Independence directly to Rhode Islanders.
"Over 1,000 Rhode Islanders have already seen the document because it's been on tour," Amore said. The document has already made stops in Warwick and South Kingstown, with upcoming appearances planned for Bristol on July 1st, the State House on July 4th, and Newport on July 19th.
Preserving and displaying these documents comes with significant logistical challenges. The Declaration cannot be displayed for more than two hours at a time, must remain in a climate-controlled environment, and requires both Rhode Island State Police and local law enforcement for security.
"It only comes about every 50 years," Amore said of the public viewing opportunity—unless, he added, voters approve a key ballot measure. He is urging Rhode Islanders to vote yes on Question 4 in November, which would fund the construction of a Rhode Island State History Center. If approved, the center would give residents year-round access to these rare documents in a dedicated facility.
A Summer of Celebration
Beyond the Declaration of Independence tour, Rhode Island 250 has been delivering a packed calendar of events across every city and town in the state. The RI250 Commission granted nearly half a million dollars to municipalities and local history organizations to fund programming, from fireworks displays and historical lectures to reenactments and living history experiences.
Past highlights include a patriotic drone show in Westerly and a visit from renowned documentarian Ken Burns, who led professional development workshops with 250 Rhode Island teachers on the American Revolution.
"Those lessons, that curriculum—what they learned and gained—will be taught for years and years," Amore said. "I think that's a really important legacy."
Looking ahead, Amore is particularly enthusiastic about the arrival of the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle—the tallest tall ship in America—which will be docked in Newport during the last week of July and open for public tours. The ship's visit was facilitated by Senator Reed in partnership with the RI250 Commission.
"That's a really unique experience," Amore said, encouraging Rhode Islanders to mark it on their calendars.
Rhode Island's Revolutionary Legacy
Amore, the former history teacher, was eager to remind residents of the state's often-overlooked role in sparking the American Revolution. Eighteen months before the Boston Tea Party, Rhode Islanders rowed out to the British customs schooner HMS Gaspee, removed the crew, shot the captain, and burned the ship.
"That was an act of defiance against England," Amore said. "What followed was the committees of correspondence—the colonies began to communicate with one another about resistance. That was all prompted by the Gaspee. So 18 months before the Boston Tea Party, where nobody was shot and nothing was burned, we had this."
He also highlighted Rhode Island's First Regiment flag—the oldest flag dating to the American Revolution—which was carried by Black, Indigenous, and white soldiers at the Battle of Yorktown, making it the banner of the first integrated regiment in American history. The flag is currently on display at the United States Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as part of an America 250 exhibit.
"Americans and people from all over the world are witnessing that," Amore said. "We hope to bring that flag back and display it in the history center."
A Unifying Moment
For Amore, the 250th anniversary is more than a history lesson—it's an opportunity to bring a divided nation together.
"When you think about what we're commemorating—the Declaration of Independence, that second paragraph—we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," he said. "That is not a Democratic point of view or a Republican point of view. That's an American point of view. That's our shared birth certificate."
He noted that only 29 countries in the world operate as full democratic republics. "We're one of those—in fact, we're the leader. So we should celebrate that, even though there's some divisiveness in the nation right now."
Rhode Islanders can find a full calendar of RI250 events at rhodeisland250.org.